Zebra Mussel Watch

The Zebra mussel, which has been rapidly colonizing the waters of the eastern US and great lake states for the last decade, has had a tremendous impact on habitats businesses , water quality and biodiversity. every lake or river provides a habitat that can be colonized by the zebra mussel. students can become knowledgeable about this introduced pest. the Rivers Project has been involved in the production of the following curriculum guides and equipment

Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk

The Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk is an educational activity kit created by the Illinois Rivers Project, The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, and the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History. The zebra mussel, which has been rapidly colonizing the waters of the eastern US and Great Lakes states for the last decade, has had a tremendous impact on habitats, businesses, water quality, and biodiversity. The activities in this kit and the companion curriculum, Zebra Mussel Mania, allow 5th and 6th grade students to explore the effects of alien species, particularly the zebra mussel, on the ecosystem. Students learn about native mussels, shellfish biology, mussel classification, the historical importance of native mussels, and the current effects of the zebra mussel invasion on the environment and society.

Alien Invaders Case Study

The case study, Alien Invaders, is based on the issue investigation model developed by Harold Hungerford, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school students to evaluate the impact of the Zebra Mussel on their own community. The students address four goal levels in their study that includes taking action.

Zebra Mussel Monitoring Device

Anyone wishing to monitor zebra mussels in their own river or lake location can purchase monitoring devices from the Rivers Project. The instrument, a modified Hester-Dendy device made from PVC, costs $12.00 plus shipping and handling and may be ordered from the Rivers Project.

Informations on Zebra Mussels

More information on Zebra Mussels can be found at this site http://www.wes.army.mil/el/zebra

The latest news on the Zebra Mussel can be found here at the USGS site and at this Wayne State University location.

Information on classification from the Franklin Institute is available on this web site

Developed by the BELL program at the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minnesota, the game challenges students to act as watershed planners and managers in various settings (national park, agricultural region, neighborhood, and city), making planning decisions which will minimize impact to watersheds. Players are graded at the end of each exercise and are provided with analyses of their answers. Appropriate for 6th grade and up.

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program is being implemented Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin), with guidance and overall responsibility provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Located at La Crosse, WI the project provides data on the Upper Mississippi River system and includes data on the Illinois River